If you're a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping for an MBBS or BDS seat in Chhattisgarh, the state's Round 1 counselling window is now live and moving fast. The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh opened registration and choice filling on its portal on August 9, 2026, with a tight set of deadlines running through late August. This round decides who gets a shot at the 85% state quota seats in Chhattisgarh's medical and dental colleges — a separate process from the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling run by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Missing a step here, even by a day, can mean losing eligibility for this round entirely, so the schedule matters as much as your rank.
Chhattisgarh candidates must register and pay fees on the DME portal by August 16 and lock their college choices by August 17, 2026, since this state-quota process is entirely separate from — and must be tracked alongside — MCC's All India Quota counselling.
The Round 1 Schedule at a Glance
DME Chhattisgarh has laid out a compressed but clear timeline for this round, running from registration to actual admission at the college in under three weeks. Candidates who plan to apply for state quota seats should block these dates on their calendar now, since state counselling authorities rarely extend deadlines for individual applicants.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment begins | August 9, 2026 |
| Last date for registration and fee payment | August 16, 2026 |
| Choice filling and locking closes | August 17, 2026 |
| Merit list and NRI eligible list published | August 18, 2026 |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | August 20, 2026 |
| Reporting and admission at allotted institute | August 21 to 27, 2026 |
How Many Seats Are Actually on Offer
The Round 1 seat matrix published by DME lists a combined 3,575 seats across MBBS and BDS courses in Chhattisgarh's government and private institutions. This is the pool candidates are competing for through the state quota, which covers 85% of seats in state medical and dental colleges — the remaining 15% (the AIQ share) is filled separately through MCC's own counselling rounds.
Named participating institutes in the notice include Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur; CIMS, Bilaspur; and the Bharat Ratna Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Government Medical College, Rajnandgaon. The full college-wise seat breakdown, including private colleges, is available on the DME portal and should be reviewed before you begin choice filling.
- MBBS seats on offer: 2,875
- BDS seats on offer: 700
- Total seats in Round 1 matrix: 3,575
Who Can Apply, and What You Need Ready
Only candidates who have appeared for and qualified NEET UG 2026 are eligible to register. Beyond that, DME Chhattisgarh applies its own state domicile rules — so candidates need to confirm they meet the residency criteria laid out in the official notice dated August 7, 2026 before applying, rather than assuming NEET qualification alone is sufficient.
Reserved category candidates must have a valid certificate from the competent authority ready at the time of registration, and NRI applicants need to submit supporting documents proving their status. Keep scanned, correctly sized copies of your NEET UG 2026 scorecard, domicile certificate, category certificate (if applicable), photograph and signature ready before you log in, since incomplete uploads are a common reason for rejected applications.
- NEET UG 2026 scorecard
- Domicile certificate as per Chhattisgarh state rules
- Category/reservation certificate from competent authority, if applicable
- NRI supporting documents, if applicable
- Recent photograph and signature scan
- Online payment method for the registration fee
How the Registration and Choice Filling Actually Works
The process is entirely online through cgdme.admissions.nic.in. Candidates log in with their NEET UG 2026 roll number, application number and date of birth, then fill in personal, academic, category and contact details before uploading the required documents. After the registration fee is paid — via net banking, debit/credit card or UPI — candidates move to the choice filling module to rank preferred colleges and courses.
This is the step where careful thought matters most: choices should be ranked from most to least preferred based on realistic assessment of NEET rank against previous years' closing ranks for each college and course. Once locked, the choice list cannot be edited, so candidates should download and save the confirmation page as proof.
Why State and AIQ Counselling Cannot Be Mixed Up
One point aspirants and parents often get confused about: state counselling and AIQ counselling run on separate portals with separate registrations, fees and timelines, and a candidate must apply to both if they want to be considered for both quotas. Registering only on the MCC portal will not make you eligible for any Chhattisgarh state quota seat, and vice versa. Families should maintain a shared tracker of both schedules, since Round 1 dates for AIQ and various states often overlap or fall close together.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Do I need to register separately for MCC AIQ counselling if I've applied for Chhattisgarh state quota?
Yes. The DME Chhattisgarh portal only covers the 85% state quota seats. To be considered for the 15% All India Quota seats, you must separately register on the MCC counselling portal and track its schedule independently.
What is the last date to register for Chhattisgarh NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling?
Registration and fee payment must be completed by August 16, 2026. Choice filling and locking stays open one day longer, until August 17, 2026.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are available in Chhattisgarh's Round 1?
The published seat matrix lists 2,875 MBBS seats and 700 BDS seats, totalling 3,575 seats across government and private colleges in the state.
When will I know if I got a seat in Round 1?
The merit list and NRI eligible list are due on August 18, 2026, followed by the Round 1 seat allotment result on August 20, 2026.
What happens after I get allotted a seat?
Candidates allotted a seat must report and complete admission formalities at the allotted institute between August 21 and August 27, 2026. Missing this reporting window can result in losing the allotted seat.
Can candidates from outside Chhattisgarh apply for the state quota?
State quota eligibility depends on DME Chhattisgarh's domicile rules, which are stricter than simply qualifying NEET UG. Candidates should check the official notice dated August 7, 2026 to confirm they meet residency requirements before registering.
What documents are compulsory at the registration stage?
Candidates need their NEET UG 2026 scorecard, domicile proof, a photograph, a signature scan, and — where relevant — category or NRI supporting documents. Reserved category applicants must have a certificate from a competent authority.
With just about a week between registration opening and choice locking, Chhattisgarh aspirants should not wait until the last date to start the process — document uploads and payment gateways tend to slow down closer to deadlines. Keep an eye on the DME portal for the merit list on August 18 and the Round 1 result on August 20, and remember to check your MCC AIQ status in parallel so neither counselling window is missed.
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